Published: May 07, 2009 10:17 pm      

Convicted burglar catches break

Violations of probation net extra in-home, not prison for 19-year-old

The Walton teenager convicted of burglarizing the State Cinemas in Logansport narrowly missed serving the remainder of his sentence in prison due to probation violations.

In Cass Circuit Court on Thursday, the prosecutor, the judge and 19-year-old Robert Blake Ropes’ own attorney made him aware of how close he came to serving more than four years in the Indiana Department of Correction.

Instead, Ropes was ordered complete a long list of tasks, including serving an additional year on in-home detention.

Ropes, represented by attorney Jim Brugh, initially denied the allegations filed in January, but during Thursday’s hearing he admitted to smoking marijuana and having contact with a co-defendant in his felony burglary case.

Ropes was convicted in May on a charge of burglary, and Judge Leo Burns sentenced him to one year on in-home detention and 4 1/2 years on probation. The probation violations occurred while Ropes was serving in-home detention.

Brugh highlighted that Ropes had provided clean urine screens prior to and since the violation, and that he is a college student, employed full-time and has a child. He also has a entered the Thinking for a Change program since committing two “thoughtless acts of misconduct.”

Chief Deputy Prosecutor Lisa Swaim explained to the judge how at first she wanted Ropes to serve the time hanging over his head.

“When I heard he violated, to say I was unhappy would be an understatement,” Swaim said.

Swaim said that Ropes had received a huge break in the plea agreement on the burglary. Not requesting the judge send Ropes to prison took a lot of convincing over the last four months.

Cass/Pulaski Community Corrections director Dave Wegner spoke on Ropes’ behalf. He said normally he would seek work release from the Cass County Jail, but the jail does not accept those who violated in-home detention. The only options were prison or an extension of the in-home detention. Wegner said Ropes had paid his portion of the $6,709 in restitution.

Ropes stood up to address the court. He said, “I’ve made a mistake. I’m still learning.”

He went on to say that he appreciated being given another chance.

Police arrested Ropes and two teenagers in August 2007 after interrupting the theater burglary in progress. The theater, which sustained extensive damage as a result of efforts to move a large safe down the stairs, was closed nearly a week for repairs.

The negotiated deal for the violation called for Ropes finishing the Thinking For a Change program and staying away from his co-defendants, as well as another individual for “law enforcement purposes,” Brugh said.

Ropes also has to establish paternity of his child, stay in school at Ivy Tech and maintain employment.

Judge Burns accepted the terms, but not before he lectured Ropes on the chance he has to get this all behind him.

“What we have here is truly the benefit of the justice system, which is rehabilitation,” Burns said.

The judge explained that people at Ropes’ age should be focused on continuing their education and setting themselves up for success in the future.

“You’re going to be rehabilitated, or you’re going to go to jail,” Burns said.

The judge warned, “Don’t ever mistake kindness for weakness.”

Kevin Lilly is news editor at the Pharos-Tribune. He can be reached at (574) 732-5117, or via e-mail at kevin.lilly@pharostribune.com